Ning Youqing looked at Qiaoqiao with a nervous expression, her eyes full of anticipation.
"Qiaoqiao, what do you think?"
"this--"
"Although I cannot give you romance and beauty, I promise that I will treat you well for the rest of my life and never have any other intentions," Ning Youqing promised again.
Qiao Qiao once said that she longs for a lifelong, monogamous relationship.
He can't guarantee anything else, but he can definitely do this.
"Youqing, me?" She didn't know how to say it in a way that would refuse him without hurting him.
"Qiaoqiao, you said you long for the life of picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence and leisurely gazing at the southern mountains. We can find a small village, live by the mountain, and I will go out at sunrise and rest at sunset. What do you think?"
"I'm sorry." Qiaoqiao shook her head. "Although I yearn for that kind of life, it's clear that what I'm talking about is somewhat different from what you're saying."
She had finally managed to escape that village and get rid of those awful villagers, so why would she want to jump back?
The so-called leisurely life is based on having money.
Having money and leisure time, and being waited on hand and foot, one naturally yearns for the peaceful life of the countryside.
Instead of working yourself to the bone for a little money.
"Qiaoqiao?"
"Didn't you want to become a nun?" Qiao Qiao suddenly changed the subject.
"But you said that my hair is beautiful and you don't want me to shave it off."
“You don’t need to force yourself for my sake. I believe that one day you will become an enlightened monk.”
Is this a rejection?
Should we send him to become a monk?
Ning Youqing took two steps back in surprise.
Seeing Ning Youqing's shocked and sad expression, Qiao Qiao's face showed a hint of self-blame. "It's all my fault. Maybe I did something that made you misunderstand. But I'm just a very easygoing person, and I've always been like this with boys. I already have someone I like."
After saying that, Qiaoqiao ran away, leaving Ning Youqing standing there in a daze, unable to come back to her senses for a long time.
"So, it turns out I was just deluding myself all along?"
Since she had no intention of pursuing him, why did she have to tease him and make him actually believe that she had some feelings for him as well?
"Young Master."
Just as Ning Youqing was feeling sad and heartbroken, a Jinyiwei (Imperial Guard) dressed in a flying fish robe suddenly knelt down in front of him.
It startled him.
"Who are you?"
“My name is lowly and not worth mentioning. Young master, would you like to come back to the Ning family with me?”
Yes, the Ning family has been exonerated.
Unfortunately, he was now all alone in the once-great Ning family.
Ning Youqing glanced at the thatched hut and vegetable garden behind her, then nodded heavily.
“Your Majesty, the Ninth Prince now wields immense power and has a vast network of cronies. It is not convenient for you to openly confront him now. We can only bide our time and wait until Your Majesty comes of age to find a suitable opportunity to reclaim power.”
Although Zhao Qingqi has become emperor, he is still young, and Ning Hongze's power is even greater than before.
Almost everyone in the court was looking forward to the day when they would turn against each other.
But clearly, they were going to be disappointed.
Not only did Zhao Qingqi trust Ning Hongze, but the Empress Dowager also trusted Ning Hongze quite a bit.
This displeased some of the older royalists. They felt distrusted by the emperor, who trusted a notorious eunuch instead of them, and they wondered how this would save face for the officials.
Of course, they dared not say much openly, but like now, they secretly stirred things up.
Zhao Qingqi had been instructed not to go against these veteran officials.
"I know what to do."
That's what he said, but Zhao Qingqi really felt that Ning Hongze didn't deserve it.
The entire court outwardly proclaimed "Your Majesty the Ninth Prince," as if they would overthrow him and put Ning Hongze on the throne at any moment. But behind his back, they were all secretly cursing him. What right did they have to say that?
Today, Zhao Qingqi personally went to welcome back Ning Youqing, the future master of the Ning family.
The imperial edict granting him a title has been issued and will be announced tomorrow.
However, although he inherited the title of Earl, he held no real power. This was Ning Hongze's intention.
He said that Ning's youngest son had been living a secluded life in the temple for many years, and that if he were to be appointed as an official and put in charge of military power, it would probably be a laughing stock.
Moreover, the military power had already been taken back that day, and now the tiger tally was in his own hands.
He also said that military power should be firmly grasped by oneself.
Ning Youqing walked into the Ning family's gate with a heart full of fear.
He rubbed his eyes, staring in disbelief at the scene before him.
"Is this my home?"
It's so big, several times bigger than the landlord's house.
"My house is so big?"
In his memory, his family was indeed well-off. Although he lived in a temple, servants would come up the mountain every now and then to donate incense money to the temple and bring him some clothes and snacks.
Every month, his parents and brothers would come down the mountain to visit him.
Unfortunately, I later heard that their entire family was executed by the emperor.
They accused him of colluding with the enemy and betraying his country.
After that, he never saw any more of those people come.
Although I'm disappointed and upset, life goes on. Although life is exhausting, at least I've survived.
Moreover, after he gradually adapted to temple life, those tasks were no longer so arduous. Before, he had wanted to be ordained as a monk, but his master said that his worldly ties were not yet severed, and one day he would have to return to the mortal world.
He didn't believe it at first, until he met Qiaoqiao during this period. He genuinely wanted to marry Qiaoqiao and completely leave the monastic life for her.
But Qiaoqiao doesn't like him.
Thinking of Qiaoqiao, Ning Youqing's shock faded somewhat.
Until he saw Ning Hongze, who was wearing a crimson flying fish robe and had snow-white skin.
He heard people respectfully address him as "Your Excellency, the Ninth Prince."
He nodded slightly, waved his hand, and the man respectfully withdrew.
The person before me is none other than the all-powerful Ninth Prince.
“Next, I’ll show you around this house. If there’s anything you’re not happy with, you can tell me and I’ll have someone fix it for you.”
Ning Youqing didn't follow him; she just looked at him, her eyes inexplicably welling up with tears.
Are you my brother?
Ning Hong's body stiffened abruptly.
"Although you've changed a lot, I can still recognize you. You're my brother?"
“I’m not.” Ning Hong turned around. “Wipe away your tears. The Ning family are all tough men, heroes. You’re not allowed to cry so easily.”
"If you weren't my brother, why would you bother with me?"
'"I--"
The original owner also longed to return to her original identity.
However, the Ning family has only recently restored its reputation; it is utterly unacceptable for another treacherous official or eunuch to emerge.
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